Updated DHEC Guidance

Updated DHEC Guidance for Quarantine & Isolation (1/3/21)

Darian Byrd

January 3, 2022

Updated DHEC Guidance for Quarantine & Isolation (1/3/21)

As shared in the 1/1/22 email message to all SDPC families, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) updated its isolation and quarantine guidance to reflect certain aspects of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated federal guidance issued earlier last week. On the afternoon of 1/1/22, DHEC shared the updated School and Childcare Exclusion List to reflect the latest CDC guidance regarding isolation and quarantine timelines. These exclusion guidelines indicate attendance limitations for students, employees (including volunteers) and provide criteria for the conditions that must be met to return to school. As of this moment (1:00 pm on 1/3/22), DHEC has not updated COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR K-12 SCHOOLS to reflect any changes in prior school practices (last updated in November). DHEC anticipates releasing updated COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools very soon. We will continue to keep you informed as DHEC guidance is updated and made available.

*Please note that as we have all learned over the past 2 years, this information and guidance is subject to change quickly. We appreciate your patience and support as we share updated guidance.

We have made revisions to our COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines based on the new guidance for exclusions. If I had to give a quick summary of the new guidelines, I would say that we have an opportunity to cut quarantine periods in half for employees and students. This is very positive news!

PRIOR Quarantine Guidelines:

  • A Positive COVID individual may stop isolation after day 10 if no symptoms.

    • Isolate for 10 days at home after the beginning of symptoms or if no symptoms, after test date.

  • A Close Contact (a majority of our cases) may stop quarantine after day 10.

NEW Quarantine Guidelines:

  • A Positive COVID individual may stop isolation after day 5 if no symptoms. 

    • Isolate for 5 days at home after the beginning of symptoms or if no symptoms, after test date.

    • DHEC indicates a mask must be worn through day 10.

  • A Close Contact (a majority of our cases) may stop quarantine after day 5 if a viral test is negative and if no symptoms

    • Quarantine can end after day 10 without testing and if no symptoms

This chart provides full details of the new COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines

  • NOTE - DHEC/CDC updated the guidelines to be considered Fully Vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals are those who have completed initial vaccination series and booster for those eligible by age and time since initial series.

    • SDPC will give a grace period until February 7 for students and employees to be considered fully vaccinated per DHEC/CDC guidelines.